dynamo

noun

dy·​na·​mo ˈdī-nə-ˌmō How to pronounce dynamo (audio)
plural dynamos
1
2
: a forceful energetic individual

Did you know?

The dynamo was introduced in 1867 to produce electricity for commercial use. Like all later generators, the original dynamos changed mechanical energy (produced by steam, which was itself produced by burning coal) into electricity. The word is less used today than it once was, since it's often applied only to generators that produced direct electric current (DC) rather than alternating current (AC), which is now the standard. A human dynamo is a person who seems to have unlimited energy.

Examples of dynamo in a Sentence

a dynamo who barely needs to sleep, or so it seems
Recent Examples on the Web This moving plasma is what generates a star’s magnetic field, known as a magnetic dynamo. Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024 The disruptive dynamo leads the Pac-12 and is sixth in the country in steals per game (2.8). Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024 Grant-Foster, who is a 6-foot-7 dynamo, a high-level player, hadn't played in a college basketball game in two years before coming to GCU. Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 16 Jan. 2024 Johnson, the former Houston Texans dynamo, is one of only three players during the Super Bowl era to lead the NFL in receiving yards in consecutive seasons (along with Jerry Rice and Calvin Johnson). USA TODAY, 9 Feb. 2024 In two seasons, DeBoer has turned the staggering program into an undefeated dynamo on the brink of a national championship. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2024 Advertisement Hip-hop dynamo The Notorious B.I.G. learned to phrase his rapping, in part, by listening to recordings of Roach’s drum solos. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Jan. 2024 The difference this time is that rather than catchup, the challenge is to avoid falling behind and undermining the dynamo of the economy. Daniel Hornak, Fortune Europe, 8 Jan. 2024 To be held once a month at Humphreys Backstage Live, the series kicks off Saturday with Detroit vocal dynamo Thornetta Davis and San Diego music mainstay Bill Magee. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dynamo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

short for dynamo-electric machine, translation of German dynamo-elektrische Maschine; dynamo-elektrisch, probably by inversion of elektrodynamisch electrodynamic

Note: According to the Oxford English Dictionary (first edition, 1897), "The full name dynamo-electric machine was given by [Werner] Siemens in 1867, to distinguish his invention from the magneto-electric machines previously used, in which the electric current was generated by means of a permanent magnet." This statement appears to be based on a citation from The Times (December 5, 1882), according to which, "Professor Thompson [not further identified] said that the name 'dynamo-electric machine' was first applied by Dr. Werner Siemens in a communication made in January, 1867, to the Berlin Academy." The communication in question was "Ueber die Umwandlung von Arbeitskraft in elektrischen Strom ohne Anwendung permanenter Magnete," published in Annalen der Physik und Chemie, Band 130 (1867), pp. 332-35. The article does in fact describe a generator with rotating coils, but nowhere does Siemens use the word dynamo-elektrisch or the phrase dynamo-elektrische Maschine; the closest he comes is magnetelektrisch for the opposing term. The first appearance of dynamo-elektrisch must date some time after this.

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dynamo was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near dynamo

Cite this Entry

“Dynamo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dynamo. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dynamo

noun
dy·​na·​mo ˈdī-nə-ˌmō How to pronounce dynamo (audio)
plural dynamos
1
2
: a forceful energetic person

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